Illinois Football Recruiting Thread

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#401      
I hear sunkett has been going to bat for Lovie with his kids. But, I’m curious what @Title has to say about whether Illinois is considered a fall back for borderline kids or whether Illinois is considered legit for the top tier talent in the area.
I’m from the central Illinois area and now live in the metro east area. Played football for a mid-state powerhouse. And I can tell you that it was a huge deal when wes lunt picked Illinois. Because if you were considered a “big-time” player like (helm, Dooley, broecher, Ford) you picked another school other than Illinois. But I will say that the imagine is improving with Lovie and co.
 
#402      

FT35

Naperville
I agree that the solution likely falls on Lovie's shoulders. It's frustrating to read this because the same comments were made with Zook and Beckman on this board. I've also heard stories about Turner's "lack of focus" on Illinois. Just seems like a constant complaint irregardless to who is the Illinois head football coach. This might be a side effect of recruiting that can only be subsided but never extinguished.

Lovie and the staff definitely made some mistakes early on with respects to instate recruiting. I remember talking to a couple of Illinois kids in the Class of 2018 who were joking about how Garrick McGee extended an "offer" to 10 year old Bunchie Young but they couldn't get an offer from Illinois. Both of these guys had multiple P5 offers. Maybe these guys weren't the right fits for us or they weren't at positions of need but you can still offer these guys and not push for them. Iowa State appears to offer any kid with a pulse.

I also remember how Kendrick Green, who camped with Illinois in June of 2016, did not initially get an offer from Illinois. It wasn't until his Senior film came out and we started recruiting him as a Defensive Lineman that we decided to offer him. The fact that we didn't think he was a P5 OL is rather puzzling considering how he will be a 4 year starter for us.

I also heard from some people that the camps Illinois ran were really poorly organized and not run very well.

I've heard much better things about Lovie and the staff in the past couple of years, however. I'm guessing some HS coaches will not forgive the staff for past mistakes but it would be nice if they could get over themselves and understand that a lot of these guys were green when it came to modern college football recruiting and they have corrected a number of the mistakes they made.

Just looking at the Class of 2020 I don't see a kid who "should" have been offered but wasn't. Maybe kids like Kaevion Mack and AJ Lawson could have been offered but I certainly understand why they weren't.

They've done a great job of targeting and building relationships with the P5 recruits in Illinois in the Class of 2021, IMO. They've also managed to get a lot of instate kids on campus who aren't getting a lot of FBS interest right now but could get more interest once the Spring showcases/camps start up.

I'm sure there's other instate guys, mainly linemen, who will get offered in the next couple of months. We didn't offer Harper and Wesley until February of 2019 while Singleton and Spraggins got offers later on in the year. There's no reason why we shouldn't hope/expect them to do much better instate this year.
 
#403      
I agree that the solution likely falls on Lovie's shoulders. It's frustrating to read this because the same comments were made with Zook and Beckman on this board. I've also heard stories about Turner's "lack of focus" on Illinois. Just seems like a constant complaint irregardless to who is the Illinois head football coach. This might be a side effect of recruiting that can only be subsided but never extinguished.
Beckmans wasn’t too bad and same with Zook. First couple of years hurt Lovie but its a 2 way street. A couple local coaches have mentioned seeing or hearing from the staff much more frequently now. One in particular believes next 2 cycles should see Illinois kids committing to the Illini. Hopefully that turns out to be the case.
 
#404      

FT35

Naperville
I’m from the central Illinois area and now live in the metro east area. Played football for a mid-state powerhouse. And I can tell you that it was a huge deal when wes lunt picked Illinois. Because if you were considered a “big-time” player like (helm, Dooley, broecher, Ford) you picked another school other than Illinois. But I will say that the imagine is improving with Lovie and co.

Why was this such a big deal? He fell to third on the depth chart at Oklahoma State and Gundy blocked him from transferring to dozens of schools. It really just felt like he had a very few options when he "picked" us and he had the inside track to starting here with Cubit as the OC.
 
#405      
Why was this such a big deal? He fell to third on the depth chart at Oklahoma State and Gundy blocked him from transferring to dozens of schools. It really just felt like he had a very few options when he "picked" us and he had the inside track to starting here with Cubit as the OC.
Because people around here saw a kid who started as a freshman at OK state and were like “wow maybe he can help Illinois get back on track”. Also there were a lot of rumors about Derek Leonard joining him at U of I. Illinois has such a bad presence in the middle of the state that some people saw it as a kid trying to turn his home state school around. In hindsight it wasn’t a huge deal but for people around the 217, it was at the time.
 
#406      
The discussions about recruiting Indiana are interesting to me but the bottom line is that I don’t see us offering/targeting any players from that state in this cycle up until now. That means it’s going to be very difficult for us to break through there anytime soon.

I don’t know where everything will land but I can tell two kids for certain will have offers. I don’t know that no offers going out would affect us in the negative either but it’s moot.
 
#407      
I personally find it hard to believe , athletes from stable households in any area allow a High School Head Coaches opinion have much influence on college choice. The parents and the athletes own opinion , imo have to carry far more weight on final destination the a High School coaches opinion.

Also my brother is a suburban High school teacher with a masters, and I know he is above 100k . The coaching stipend isnt equivalent to time spent . ( Unless booster $ offsets school district alotmen)
 
#408      
Lovie and the staff definitely made some mistakes early on with respects to instate recruiting. I remember talking to a couple of Illinois kids in the Class of 2018 who were joking about how Garrick McGee extended an "offer" to 10 year old Bunchie Young but they couldn't get an offer from Illinois. Both of these guys had multiple P5 offers. Maybe these guys weren't the right fits for us or they weren't at positions of need but you can still offer these guys and not push for them. Iowa State appears to offer any kid with a pulse.

I also remember how Kendrick Green, who camped with Illinois in June of 2016, did not initially get an offer from Illinois. It wasn't until his Senior film came out and we started recruiting him as a Defensive Lineman that we decided to offer him. The fact that we didn't think he was a P5 OL is rather puzzling considering how he will be a 4 year starter for us.

I also heard from some people that the camps Illinois ran were really poorly organized and not run very well.

I've heard much better things about Lovie and the staff in the past couple of years, however. I'm guessing some HS coaches will not forgive the staff for past mistakes but it would be nice if they could get over themselves and understand that a lot of these guys were green when it came to modern college football recruiting and they have corrected a number of the mistakes they made.

Just looking at the Class of 2020 I don't see a kid who "should" have been offered but wasn't. Maybe kids like Kaevion Mack and AJ Lawson could have been offered but I certainly understand why they weren't.

They've done a great job of targeting and building relationships with the P5 recruits in Illinois in the Class of 2021, IMO. They've also managed to get a lot of instate kids on campus who aren't getting a lot of FBS interest right now but could get more interest once the Spring showcases/camps start up.

I'm sure there's other instate guys, mainly linemen, who will get offered in the next couple of months. We didn't offer Harper and Wesley until February of 2019 while Singleton and Spraggins got offers later on in the year. There's no reason why we shouldn't hope/expect them to do much better instate this year.
Your description of the first few years in particular fits with the overall feel you get from watching Lovie coach, which is that he is not well organized and his attention to detail is lacking compared to other coaches.
 
#410      
Those comments are because the rankings are going to change significantly before the start of their senior season and a currently “deep” in-state recruiting crop may look worse in eight months (or maybe even better?) a lot of kids will be ranked for the first time when they go to camps, which will bump a number of these recruits down in the rankings.

Correct.

I wouldn’t cross kids off either.
 
#411      
Those comments are because the rankings are going to change significantly before the start of their senior season and a currently “deep” in-state recruiting crop may look worse in eight months (or maybe even better?) a lot of kids will be ranked for the first time when they go to camps, which will bump a number of these recruits down in the rankings.

I have no issues with churning - recalibration of rankings as time goes on.

The problem I have is that I think we are the only ones making that argument. Michigan has got two Illinois kids that UoI offered. Minnesota has at least one 4* kid that UoI offered (and potentially another). And, perhaps Iowa and ND have a kid or two. I very much doubt we would be making that argument even if we got 2-3 of these kids (MI + MN kids).

As I type, the way I see is that given our predicament we have no option other than find ways to rethink our arguments. The question is how is it that we repeatedly fall into such predicaments? The hope I have is based on UoI offers to more 4* than any other category for 2021. But, given our recruiting record, I can see UoI compromising with late offers and picking up lower level kids too. Given that I think JC and portal players will become key to our recruiting strategy at least for the next couple of cycles. HS 4* + recruits will be a cherry on the top.

But, thanks. I know a lot more now.
 
#412      
Saw report that USC WR Velus Jones entering portal. A 6-0, 190 WR has mainly been kickoff returner — averaged over 23 yards this year with a TD. Only had 6 catches this year but 24 last with a TD. Tap that USC pipeline again?
 
#413      
Saw report that USC WR Verdus Jones entering portal. A 6-0, 190 WR has mainly been kickoff returner — averaged over 23 yards this year with a TD. Only had 6 catches this year but 24 last with a TD. Tap that USC pipeline again?

Velus I'm guessing, the kid from Alabama right? I don't know why he'd want us.
 
#414      
Just curious, but is Illinois supposed to offer everyone one of the top 25 in the state or only the ones they actually want?
 
#419      

mhuml32

Cincinnati, OH
Just curious, but is Illinois supposed to offer everyone one of the top 25 in the state or only the ones they actually want?

I'm not sure if there is a correct answer for this one. Beckman was known for making a massive amount of offers, Lovie seems more selective. Make too many and it's not perceived valuable. Make too little and people are offended. Choose your poison.
 
#420      

mhuml32

Cincinnati, OH
Chip Long.


Boy, do I remember his name coming up a lot in the coaching search thread. For those that didn't follow him, he was essentially fired by Notre Dame at the end of the regular season.
 
#421      
Boy, do I remember his name coming up a lot in the coaching search thread. For those that didn't follow him, he was essentially fired by Notre Dame at the end of the regular season.

Yeah, 0440 had said in that thread a lot of people told him to steer clear. Not well liked, apparently.

Chip has SERIOUS connections in the Valley in Arizona (Which is where they plucked the kid Baker from. My guy in the Valley tells me that kid is as advertised) and he owns Alabama, his home state. That was a driving point to them shifting some of their recruiting efforts. Liked or not, Chip Long can recruit.
 
#422      

ivwilsoniv

Aurora, IL
Yeah, 0440 had said in that thread a lot of people told him to steer clear. Not well liked, apparently.

Chip has SERIOUS connections in the Valley in Arizona (Which is where they plucked the kid Baker from. My guy in the Valley tells me that kid is as advertised) and he owns Alabama, his home state. That was a driving point to them shifting some of their recruiting efforts. Liked or not, Chip Long can recruit.
Are you saying Illinois may consider bringing Long on board?
 
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